New bakery open in Belvidere

A new bakery specializing in decorated sugar cookies and custom cakes is open in Belvidere.

Elizabeth Ann's opened Dec. 6 and is located at 107 Buchanan St., just off State Street. It's owned by friends Robin Heckman and Cristy McKenzie.

Heckman, who's been baking cakes for friends and relatives for more than 15 years, lives in Rockton. McKenzie lives in Roscoe, used to work in catering and is passionate about art.

Their collaboration started about two years ago when McKenzie talked to Heckman about painting sugar cookies.

"It just snowballed from there," McKenzie said. "We really wanted to start a business, and we were really praying and thinking about it for a few years. … This place opened up in Belvidere, and it's perfect. It's adorable."

The name Elizabeth Ann's is a combination of their mother's middle names. The bakery can do any type of custom order, including wedding, birthday and other special-event cakes.

The storefront also has a case that typically has five or six flavors of cupcakes each day, as well as sweet bread, dessert bars and cookies. McKenzie said the cherry pie bars and the Swedish almond bread are popular.

They're also having fun experimenting with cupcake flavors, like a chipotle chocolate cupcake with cinnamon frosting.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Visit elizabethannsbakery.com or call the business at 779-552-8455 for more information. You can also find the bakery on Facebook.

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